United States Army Culinary Arts Team

US Army Culinary Arts Team - USACAT

The US Army Culinary Arts Team (USACAT) is the US National Military Culinary Team and will compete at local, national, and international culinary competitions. The Commanding General, USAQMC&S appoints the team manager and members. Appointments are accomplished by memorandum to the respective commands; after the Team Member has completed and met the tryout crit

eria. Team members will be appointed for a specific time period noted in the appointment memorandum. This is a Joint Service Team and a slot is held for each service; the Army retains the remainder of the slots. The US Army first competed in the Culinary Olympics in 1976. The team consisted of three individuals who were personally selected by LTG John D. McLaughlin (deceased). The three Soldiers, (SFC Stephen Posser, SFC Doug Hoffman, and SFC Ivan Beasley) won a gold medal and two silver medals. Stephen Posser has since retired from the Army, but is currently Chief, Culinary Skills Training Division, Directorate of Training, Army Center of Excellence, Subsistence (ACES) at Fort Lee, VA. Since its establishment, the USACAT has competed in numerous national and international competitions, winning more than 400 team and individual medals.